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Detroit Restaurant Week, a kosher feast, big dogs and more

Deals in Detroit It's that time of year again: Detroit Restaurant Week is offering diners excellent deals on meals at some of Detroit's finest establishments — 18 in all. Expect each restaurant to offer spring-inspired three-course meals at $28 per person for 10 nights only. The restaurants will include 24Grille, Angelina Italian Bistro, Coach Insignia, Cuisine, Detroit Seafood Market, Iridescence, Mosaic, the Rattlesnake Club, Roma Cafe and Wolfgang Puck Grille. It all happens April 1-10; for more information, see detroitrestaurantweek.com.

Dinner and a show The final night of the Jewish Community Center's Stephen Gottlieb Music Festival will be a musical tribute to Detroit by the Michigan Board of Cantors, with nods to Motown and more. The JCC's very own kosher restaurant, Milk and Honey, will offer a special pre-show meal in Handleman Hall for which only 150 reservations will be accepted. The meal and concert happen on April 3, at the JCC, 6600 W. Maple Rd., West Bloomfield; see mattprenticerg.com for menu selections; call 248 661-2327 to reserve your spot; all reservations must be prepaid and pre-ordered; members $25, non-members $35.

Michigan uncorked We were told by the good people at Royal Oak's Vinotecca that April is Michigan Wine Month. Vinotecca will mark the occasion with a new menu and this year's offerings from Michigan wineries. By the end of this week, they should have their new offerings up and running, so curious oenophiles will want to take a look. Vinotecca is at 417 N. Main St., Royal Oak.

Great dogs! Our buddy Sal at Downtown Detroit's Ham Shoppe pulled our ear about his new jumbo coneys a few months ago. Now he says he's rolling out a new line of frankfurters as well, including a Kowalski stadium-style hot dog as well as an all-beef hot dog. Talk about being a serious dog-hound! If you haven't been to Sal's new location on Monroe, and you enjoy a good hot dog, drop on in. The Ham Shoppe is at 330 Monroe St., 313-965-0088; open until 3 p.m. weekdays.

Pizza for art From now until April 2, Eastern Market's Supino Pizzeria will donate 25 percent of its sales to the Fifth Annual Belle Isle Art Exhibit, which is scheduled for this summer. The promotion, Dubbed "Supino Loves the Arts," will aid the unusual art exhibit, which turns Detroit's island park into a frame for several works of art by local creatives. Drop in at Supino Pizzeria, 2457 Russell St., Detroit; supinopizza.com.

Food/Thought Joan Nathan is an authority on Jewish cooking, having written numerous books on the subject. Her newest, Quiches, Kugels, and Couscous: My Search for Jewish Cooking in France (Knopf, $39.95), furthers her passionate pursuit of Jewish foods that have been influenced by the various ethnicities, including immigrants, who inhabit the nation. And the contents range well beyond quiches, kugels and couscous, including such hearty fare as Moroccan chicken with olives and preserved lemons. Scads of tempting photos and illuminating stories accompany the hundreds of recipes.

Bottoms Up Centuries ago it was common practice to dry the malted barley used to make beer in a wood-fired kiln. The smoke would impart a unique flavor to the finished beer. Today, Bamberg's Brauerei Heller-Trum in Bavaria, Germany, continues this tradition. Though Schlenkerla Helles does not use smoked malt, it takes on a subtle smokiness by virtue of being produced using the same process as their other smoked beers. Simultaneously crisp and light with the flavors of smoke and grain, Schlenkerla Helles tastes something like eating a bowl of cereal next to a campfire.

The Works Sadly, the Michigan State Fair is gone, but the decadent treats that were so much a part of the experience are still available. Crispy crusted fried chicken, french fries, onion rings, fish and chips, and even deep-fried Twinkies are within reach at home with the Breville deep fryer. A dial adjusts cooking temperatures from 320 degrees to 375 degrees, assuring perfect results. The removable submersible lid has a viewing window that allows you to monitor the progress of the food. You can raise the basket and drain the fried food without opening the lid. Exclusively at Williams-Sonoma.